Plumbing tool for spindles



Oct. 21, 195 8 c. A. WILLIAMS 6, PLUMBING TOOL FOR SYPINDLES Filed Dec; 1, 1953 2 2 E Z 2 I2 55 g g 2 j 56 Z Z 57 z 4 t 2 E 2 2 2 2 J 2 2 I7 '7 v I70 22 20 22 5 CLAYTON A. WILLIAMS. 2 2a INVENTOR. 26 7 30 fu wm A'I'TORNEYS.

United States Patent PLUMBING TOOL FOR SPINDLES Clayton A. Williams, Charlotte, N. C. Application December 1, 1953, Serial No. 395,338 1 Claim. (Cl. 33174) This invention relates to an improved plumbing tool for plumbing and alining in the exact center of spinning rings, spindles of the type used on spinning machines, twisters and the like.

Various types of plumbing devices have heretofore been used for plumbing spindles of spinning machines and the like. However, the devices heretofore in use have been objectional due to the relatively large number of parts from which they are made and, also, due to the shape and size of the same which has rendered them cumbersome and expensive.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved plumbing tool which is of simple, light weight construction, and includes a minimum of parts, and, thus may be economically manufactured and easily used.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved plumbing tool comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to be inserted over and in engagement with a vertical spindle and being provided with a relatively small circular spirit level at the upper end thereof having a circular indicating line at the center thereof located concentrically relative to the axis of the tubular member and with which the air bubble of the spirit level registers when the tubular member and the spindle on which it is mounted are perfectly plumb.

As the spindle is adjusted to extend perfectly plumb from the spindle rail on which it is mounted, it is necessary that the spindle be positioned concentrically with the usual spinning ring positioned in the ring rail above the spindle rail. It is therefore another object of this invention to provide a spindle locating collar or gauge mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the tubular body of the plumbing tool, the outside diameter of which is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the spinning ring. Thus, by adjusting the collar longitudinally on the tubular body of the plumbing tool, the collar may be positioned in the same horizontal plane as the spinning ring regardless of the position of the ring rail relative to the spindle rail, since the ring rail may stop at a different position relative to the spindle each time the machine is stopped, and to thereby facilitate locating the spindle concentrically relative to the corresponding spinning ring.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one type of spindle showing the improved plumbing tool mounted thereon and showing the spindle mounted on a fragmentary portion of a spindle rail and extending through a spinning ring mounted on a fragmentary portion of a vertically movable ring rail;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral indicates a spindle rail, which is the usual part of a spinning or twisting machine, and disposed above the spindle rail 10 is a conventional vertically reciprocable ring rail 11 in which a plurality of longitudinally spaced spinning rings 12, only one of which is shown, are mounted. Extending downwardly through the spinning ring 12, and being suitably mounted on the spindle rail 10, is a spindle broadly designated at 13. The spindle 13, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of a type substantially as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,497,834 to J. A. Kennedy, dated February 14, 1950. However, the improved plumbing tool may be used for plumbing any of many other types of spinning and twisting spindles.

The spindle 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of a type comprising a bobbin supporting member or spindle body 15 on which a bobbin, not shown, is mounted during the winding of yarn thereon. The lower end of the spindle body 15 is fixed in a whorl 16 which is driven by conventional means, not shown, to rotate at a relatively high rate of speed. This whorl 16 is mounted for rotation on a spindle base 17 having a convex lower surface 17a which rests upon a concave upper surface 20a of a spindle support or bolster case 20. The spindle support 20 has a reduced portion 21 integral therewith which loosely extends through a flanged bushing 22.

The bushing 22 loosely penetrates the spindle rail 10 and the lower end thereof is threaded for reception of a spanner nut 23 which secures the bushing 22 to the spindle rail. The bushing 22 is surrounded by resilient collars or washers 24 and 25 whose proximate surfaces engage the upper and lower surfaces of the spindle rail 10 to thus clampingly and resiliently secure the bushing 22 to the spindle rail 10. The reduced portion 21 of the spindle support 20 extends beyond the lower end of the bushing 22 and penetrates a washer 26. The lower surface of the washer 26 is engaged by a nut 27 threadably mounted on the lower end of the extension 21 of the bushing 20 and which is tightened against the lower surface of the washer 26 for securing the spindle support 20 to the bushing 22.

A bolt 30, on which the spindle base 17 is secured, passes through the spindle base 17 concentrically therewith and loosely extends through the spindle support 20 and the extension 21 which are of tubular construction. The lower end of the bolt 30 has a washer 31 thereon which is held tightly against the lower end of the tubular extension 21 of the spindle support 20 for securing the spindle base 17 to the upper surface 20a of the spindle support 20.

Although the member 30 is termed a bolt, it is evident that this member 30 maybe an extension of a spindle shaft or blade on which the spindle body 15 is .rotatably mounted at the upper end thereof to insure that the upper end of the spindle body 15 rotates concentrically with the whorl 16. It is thus seen that the nut 23 may be loosened for adjusting the spindle 13 relative to the spindle rail 10 to position the same concentrically relative to the spinning ring 12, after which the nut 27 may be tightened. Also, the nut 32 may be loosened for pivoting the spindle body 15, the whorl 16 and the spindle base 17 relative to the spindle support 20 for plumbing the spindle 13, after which the nut 32 may be tightened.

In order to facilitate accurately plumbing the spindle 13 and to insure that the spindle is positioned concentrically relative to the spinning ring 12, the improved plumbing tool, broadly designated at 35, is provided. This plumbing tool 35 comprises an elongated tubular body member 36 having a concentric longitudinal bore 37 therein extending from the lower end thereof and terminating adjacent the upper end thereof and which may either be tapered or straight depending upon the configuration of the spindle body 15. The upper end of the tubular body member 36 has a restricted opening or bore 40 therein communicating with the bore 37 and also has a circular cavity or counterbore 41 in the upper end thereof which is located concentrically of the axis of the bore 37 and which is provided for reception of a flange portion 42 on the lower end of a circular spirit level 43.

In order to insure that the spirit'level 43 is concentrically located relative to the bore 37, the periphery of the flange 42 should fit snugly in the counterbore 41. The spirit level 43 is secured in the counterbore 41 by any suitable means such as screws 44 which penetrate the flange 42 of the spirit level 43 and are threadably embedded in the upper end of the tubular body 36.

It will be observed in Figure 2 that the spirit level includes a bottom disk 45 and a transparent top disk 46 suitably secured, as by a pressed fit, in the tubular spirit level 43 and between which a suitable leveling fluid 47 is provided. This leveling fluid 47 forms a relatively small air bubble 50, when in a level position as shown in Figure 2, at the upper end thereof and the top disk at has a centrally located circular line 51 thereon. This circular line 51 may be stamped or printed on the disk 46 or formed in any other desired manner. When the plumbing tool 35 is perfectly plumb, the air bubble 50 registers concentrically with the circular line 51 on the disk 46.

The diameter of the bore 37 must, necessarily, be such that the plumbing tool 35 will fit snugly upon the spindle body 15 and, accordingly, the tool body 36 has a radially extending aperture 53 adjacent the upper end thereof which permits egress and ingress of air in the bore 37 when the tool 35 is placed upon or removed from the spindle body 15. It is thus seen that the spindle 13 may readily be plumbed by positioning the plumbing tool 35 upon the spindle body 15 and then adjusting the spindle 13 so the air bubble t) registers concentrically with the circular line 51.

Now, in order to insure that the spindle 15 is located concentrically relative to the spinning ring 12, a circular spindle locating collar or gauge 55 is slidably mounted on and snugly engages the periphery of the tool body 36. This spindle locating gauge 55 has an externally threaded hub portion 56 integral therewith which is provided with tapered threads thereon for reception of an internally threaded nut 57, the threads of which are also tapered according to the taper of the threads on the threaded hub portion 56 of the gauge 55.

The hub portion 56 of the gauge 55 is provided with at least one longitudinally extending slot 60 therein and, therefore, upon the nut 57 being tightened on the hub portion 56, of the gauge 55, this will cause the hub portion 56 to tighten against the periphery of the tool body 36 to lock the gauge 55 on the tool body 36. It is evident that, upon loosening the nut 57, the gauge 55 may be adjusted longitudinally of the tool body 36 to thus insure that the upper surface of the gauge 55 is properly positioned relative to the ring 12, although the ring rail 11 may stop in a different position relative to the spindle 13 each time the machine, of which the spindle rail and the ring rail 11 are parts, is stopped. The gauge 55 is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the ring 12, say, inch, and thus, an operator may determine that the spindle 13 is concentrically positioned relative to the ring 12 by observing the clearance between the periphery of the gauge and the inner surface of the spinning ring 12.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

I claim:

A plumbing tool for a vertical spindle mounted on a spinning machine or the like, wherein the spinning machine has a spindle rail on which the spindle is mounted, a vertically reciprocable ring rail adapted to stop in a different position at difierent times when the spinning machine is stopped, and a ring in the ring rail through which the spindle extends; said plumbing tool comprising an elongated tubular member having a longitudinal bore therein adapted to snugly receive the spindle, a circular spirit level fixedly mounted on the upper end of said tubular member and closing said end, said spirit level comprising a housing having a bottom disk, a transparent top disk spaced from said bottom disk and provided with a centrally located circular line thereon, and fluid contained within said housing which has an air bubble therein for registration with said circular line when said tubular member and the spindle are plumb, said tubular member being provided with a vent below said spirit level, said vent being open to the atmosphere and extending transversely with respect to the axis of said longitudinal bore into communication with said bore, a circular gauge slidably mounted on said tubular member, said gauge having a hub portion integral therewith, said hub portion having a threaded tapered external surface, a nut having a threaded tapered bore complementary to said threaded tapered external surface of the hub portion, and said hub portion being provided with a longitudinally extending slot therein, whereby upon said nut being threaded about the hub portion, said hub portion will constrict aboutsaid tubular member to lock the gauge thereon and provide a guide for concentrically locating the spindle relative to the ring in the ring rail through which the spindle extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,975 Kelly Nov. 19, 1901 1,071,430 Keen Aug. 26, 1913 2,240,337 Lannen Apr. 29, 1941 2,356,311 Geier Aug. 22, 1944 2,482,224 Swearingen Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 56,618 Switzerland June 10, 1911 

